How Insulin Pumps Help Kids and Teens Keep Blood Sugar in Range

Researchers at a pediatric diabetes center in the United States studied 50 children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes as they transitioned from daily insulin injections to pump therapy. The average age of the participants was about 10 years old. Before switching to a pump, the team measured each child's blood sugar control for three months using insulin injections as their baseline. Then they tracked how well the children managed their blood sugar for the next six months using pumps.

The study included two main types of pump technology. About 78% of the group used an automated insulin delivery (AID) system—the Medtronic MiniMed 780G—which automatically adjusts insulin delivery based on blood sugar readings. The remaining 22% used the Omnipod DASH, a non-automated pump that requires manual input but still offers continuous insulin delivery.

The biggest finding was that children and teens spent significantly more time with their blood sugar in the healthy target range after switching to pumps. Before the transition, their baseline time in range wasn't specified in this report. After three months on pump therapy, the group averaged 70.9% time in range—meaning their blood sugar was where it should be for about seven out of every ten hours tracked. By six months, that number improved further to 73.2%.

At the same time, the time their blood sugar spent too high (above range) decreased meaningfully. At three months, high blood sugar episodes dropped to about 26.5% of the day, and by six months, fell to 24.3%. These reductions were statistically significant, meaning the improvements were not due to chance.

When researchers looked separately at the children using automated insulin delivery systems, the benefits were even more pronounced. This group showed greater increases in time in range and more significant reductions in both high blood sugar events and a measure called glucose management indicator (GMI), which estimates what an HbA1c result would be based on recent glucose readings.

This doesn't mean non-automated pumps aren't helpful—both types of pumps improved glucose control. However, the data suggests that automated systems may offer an additional advantage, likely because they continuously adjust insulin delivery without requiring manual input from the user.

If your child or teen currently uses multiple daily injections and you're thinking about switching to an insulin pump, this study offers encouraging evidence. The improvements in blood sugar control appear relatively quickly—within three months—and continue to build over time. This suggests the body and the person using the pump both benefit from an adjustment period as they become more comfortable with the technology.

It's important to remember this was a preliminary study from a single pediatric center with 50 children. Families considering pump therapy should talk with their diabetes care team about which system might be the best fit for their individual situation, daily routine, and preferences. Every child with Type 1 diabetes is unique, and what works well for one person may differ for another.

Source: Children (Basel, Switzerland). Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.